nbn co improves business migration processes

Ahead of the first forced disconnections of special network services used by business customers, nbn co has introduced new changes including a $270 credit to encourage businesses to migrate to the nbn.

Copper-based special services including Ethernet Lite, Wholesale Business Digital Subscriber Lines (BDSL) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) will be disconnected starting in November. Such services often simultaneously use voice, video and data.

With an estimated 200,000 special services located across Australia that may need to migrate to the nbn, the company has introduced the ability for enterprise users to build a temporary parallel line on the nbn access network.

nbn co will be able to use this line to test applications and services before coordinating with retail service providers (RSPs) on a full migration at a time that is best suited to the customer.

To encourage uptake of this arrangement and migration to the nbn well before service cut-off dates, nbn co will credit a $270 subsequent installation fee previously passed on to RSPs for business customers migrating their special services to this separate line.

In addition, nbn co is ramping up its education campaign aimed at ensuring businesses are ready to migrate services to the nbn, to inform them that the migration is not an automatic process and must be arranged with phone and internet providers.

Meanwhile the ACCC has approved Telstra’s proposed variation to the nbn migration plan aimed at incorporating fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) as a new access technology for nbn connections.

The migration plan outlines Telstra’s planned actions to progressively migrate its voice and broadband services from its existing copper and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) networks on to the nbn.

The variation is aimed at addressing concerns that premises slated for connection over FTTC could face service disruption under the initial proposal.

“The proposed connection processes could have resulted in people being left without a phone or internet service before their FTTC service was operating,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“nbn co have now agreed to change connection processes and undertake data testing to ensure FTTC services are operating prior to disconnection of existing services. “The ACCC welcomes these improvements, which should provide a safeguard against consumers.”

Additionally, nbn co has agreed to notify FTTC service customers that they will have up to 18 months to switch their existing services to the nbn before these services are disconnected.

Image courtesy nbn co.

Follow us and share on Twitter and Facebook